arbitrate

American  

[ahr-bi-trayt] / ˈɑr bɪˌtreɪt /

verb (used with object)

• arbitrates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• arbitrated,
  past participle,  past
• arbitrating
  present participle

1. to decide as arbitrator or arbiter; determine.

2. to submit to arbitration; settle by arbitration.

   to arbitrate a dispute.

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verb (used without object)

• arbitrates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• arbitrated,
  past participle,  past
• arbitrating
  present participle

1. to act as arbitrator or arbiter; decide between opposing or contending parties or sides.

2. to submit a matter to arbitration.

arbitrate British  

/ ˈɑːbɪˌtreɪt /

verb

1. to settle or decide (a dispute); achieve a settlement between parties

2. to submit to or settle by arbitration

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Usage

What does arbitrate mean? To arbitrate is to act as an arbitrator—an independent, impartial third party that works to settle a dispute between two opposing sides, often by making a decision that they both agree to. This process is called arbitration. Arbitrate can also mean to engage in arbitration, as in If we can’t come to an agreement, we may need to arbitrate. For a process to be considered arbitration, it must involve an arbitrator, which can be a single person or a team of people. The terms arbitrate and arbitration are especially used in the context of negotiations between businesses and labor unions. When the two sides can’t agree and negotiations are unproductive, they may agree or be ordered to arbitrate. An arbitration process in which the arbitrator’s decision must be accepted by both parties is sometimes called binding arbitration—meaning the arbitrator’s decision is final and legally binding. The word arbitrate can also be used in a more general way meaning "to determine or settle a dispute," similar to the word mediate. However, arbitrate often implies that the process is a formal one. Example: After weeks of negotiations stalled and resulted in an impasse, the two sides agreed to enter arbitration.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• arbitrator
  noun
• rearbitrate
  verb
• arbitrable
  adjective
• arbitrative
  adjective
• unarbitrated
  adjective
• unarbitrative
  adjective
• well-arbitrated
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• arbitrating
  present
• arbitrated
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• arbitrate
  simple
• arbitrates
  simple
• have arbitrated
  perfect
• has arbitrated
  perfect
• am arbitrating
  progressive
• are arbitrating
  progressive
• is arbitrating
  progressive
• have been arbitrating
  perfect progressive
• has been arbitrating
  perfect progressive

Past

• arbitrated
  simple
• had arbitrated
  perfect
• was arbitrating
  progressive
• were arbitrating
  progressive
• had been arbitrating
  perfect progressive

Future

• will arbitrate
  simple
• will have arbitrated
  perfect
• will be arbitrating
  progressive
• will have been arbitrating
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of arbitrate

First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin arbitrātus “decided, judged,” past participle of arbitrārī “to decide, judge,” from arbit(e)r arbiter

Explanation

If your two best friends are fighting over the last piece of gum in the pack, you might arbitrate by telling them to split the last piece. Arbitrate is when a neutral third party helps end a conflict. Arbitrate derives from the Latin arbiter "judge." (An arbiter of taste is a good judge of taste.) When you arbitrate, you are doing what a judge does in a court of law. In the US, to avoid litigation, many choose non-binding arbitration—where a neutral third party suggests a settlement.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

arbitrate arbitrates arbitrated arbitrating

The data on which image recognition and generative models are based rely on statistics and probability to arbitrate the truth.

From Salon ● Jul. 28, 2026

Instead, Wilhelm learned that the fate of his bet was up to a loosely organized body of cryptocurrency holders empowered to arbitrate such disputes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 18, 2026

The complexities mean courts and tribunals have frequently been called on to arbitrate.

From BBC ● Apr. 18, 2025

The new law will take effect when it’s published in the country’s official bulletin, at which time courts will no longer arbitrate what journalists can write.

From Washington Times ● Nov. 29, 2023

Beloved had sat down with her and Redemption during their first big fight, when they were thirteen, to arbitrate.

From "Pet" by Akwaeke Emezi

Bodner challenged his firing soon after with Finra, which arbitrates employment disputes brought by brokers and advisers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 28, 2026

He arbitrates disputes, much like any TV judge, but his show lacks the self-serious demeanor of other shows that try to replicate a real-life courtroom, she said.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 11, 2022

So the Advisory Commission, which arbitrates between the victims of spoliation and the holders of disputed cultural property, is often claimants’ only recourse.

From New York Times ● Jan. 25, 2021

European leaders appealed to the World Trade Organisation, which arbitrates in trade disputes, and won.

From The Guardian ● Mar. 10, 2018

Discussion and the general will arbitrates the question, and to this, private opinion yields with a good grace, and order is preserved uninterrupted.

From Writings of Thomas Paine — Volume 2 (1779-1792): the Rights of Man by Moncure Daniel Conway

And while she could still lose her team gold once the case is arbitrated later — and any other medal she wins — Valieva for now is cleared to pursue her Olympic dream.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 14, 2022

Apart from stating that arbitrated payments to publishers must be made in lump sums, the new amendments also clarify that the panel must consider costs incurred by the platforms and by the news businesses.

From Washington Times ● Feb. 16, 2021

In addition to sports, Mr. Nicolau arbitrated disputes in aviation, communications and entertainment.

From Washington Post ● Jan. 10, 2020

The average consumer, by contrast, had never before arbitrated a complaint.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 5, 2019

I assumed Baeh was honoring the traditional Confucian structure of community, where in each village a prominent elder man heard the townspeople’s grievances and arbitrated and ruled.

From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee

Plaintiffs attorneys, legislators and patients say that Kaiser’s private and confidential process for arbitrating legal disputes over medical care still has key flaws that favor Kaiser over patients bringing malpractice cases.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 5, 2026

Finally, in 1872, with Germany’s Kaiser Wilhelm arbitrating, the San Juan Islands were granted to the United States.

From Seattle Times ● May 16, 2024

But in 1815, with Pope Pius VII arbitrating restitution demands, the French, did give Italy a painting in exchange — not “The Wedding Feast,” but Charles Le Brun’s “The Feast in the House of Simon.”

From New York Times ● Oct. 7, 2022

Other kinds of transportation workers who typically do not cross state lines may use Monday's decision to argue that they also are exempt from arbitrating wage lawsuits.

From Reuters ● Jun. 6, 2022

But the opportunity was also taken of arbitrating old feuds and squabbles.

From The Highlands of Ethiopia by William Cornwallis Harris

Related Words

• adjudicate
• interpose
• intervene
• mediate
• straighten out